Þorkell Skallason (ÞSkall)

Nothing is known about Þorkell (ÞSkall) except that he was a retainer of Earl Waltheof (Valþjófr) of Northumbria and that he composed a flokkr in Waltheof’s honour after his death (1076). According to Fsk (ÍF 29, 294), Þorkell was the son of one Þórðr skalli ‘Skull’, but we do not know whether he was from Iceland or from Norway (Skj gives his ethnicity as Icel.). No other poetry is attributed to Þorkell, and he is not listed in Skáldatal.

William, who reddened weapons, the one who cut the rime-flecked sea from the south, has indeed betrayed the bold Waltheof under safe conduct. It is true that killings will be slow to cease in England, but my lord was brave; a more splendid munificent prince will not die.